NHL Rumors II: Bruins and Boychuk, Red Wings and Capitals

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has a couple of open trade conversations still ongoing with fellow NHL teams, and it’s a safe bet it involves at least one of their defensemen. If the Bruins are forced into making an emergency salary cap maneuver this summer, then Johnny Boychuk would be the most likely trade chip with his $3.36 million cap hit. He should get plenty of interest.

The Fourth Period: The Bruins have a salary cap issue and have RFAs Reilly Smith, Justin Florek, Jordan Caron, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski left to sign. Multiple sources are saying that they could look to trade Johnny Boychuk and is $3.36 million salary. The Flames, Wild and Avalanche are said to be interested. Boychuk’s limited no-trade clause expired on May 31st.

Ansar Khan of MLive.com: Detroit Red Wings General manager Ken Holland will continue exploring the trade pissibillties for a right handed shooting defenseman. Mike Green of Washington might be the most viable candidate, and he’s probably available after the Capitals signed Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik. Injuries have hampered Green in recent years, but he’s a tremendous skater who produces offense and can quarterback the power play.

Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: The Capitals made an effort to re-sign center Mikhail Grabovski, but at five years and $5 million per season, MacLellan said the Caps decided the money was better spent on two defensemen than one. With $1.1 million in cap space the Caps still have some room to sign a free-agent center, but unless they plan on adding a fourth-liner like Michal Handzus or an enforcer like Zenon Konopka, they’re more likely to seek depth down the middle through a trade.

The Caps now have a few extra defensemen to shop around, starting with Mike Green, but his one-year, $6.25 million salary may be a bit restrictive. Dmitry Orlov [2 years, $4 million], John Erskine [1 year, $1.962 million] and Jack Hillen [1 year, $700,000] all could be dangled in an attempt to land a center.